Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I recently purchased a teardrop that while well built, needs to be refininshed.I want to do a good job. The builder used 1/2 in. ply for the sides that had a good smooth side on the inside and a rough side outside. The inside is not skinned or insulated yet. The outside was badly fiberglassed. The top is OK. I have sanded down the lumps and bumps to an almost smooth finish. What should I use to fill in the many small crease like hollows in the grain of the ply? Does it need to be filled? None are over 1/16 of an inch deep. It's going to be skined with 1/8 inch oak ply and become a woody. When I skin it with the oak, I will use brads to fasten it and screws for the thicker1/2 in. trim. Do I need a mastic or glue under it? I also thought about placing a thick bead of silicone seal near the edge of the trailer before fastening down the skin to keep water out. I'm using spar varnish on the sides and oil based enamel on the top. Plan to have it done for Pamplen Grove for its first outing.

Mary and Mom's Nest

If you are going to cover it , epoxy thickened with microbaloons should work, it sands easily. It can set up fast or slow depending on the hardner you use.

mfkaplan wrote:I recently purchased a teardrop that while well built, needs to be refininshed.I want to do a good job. The builder used 1/2 in. ply for the sides that had a good smooth side on the inside and a rough side outside. The inside is not skinned or insulated yet. The outside was badly fiberglassed. The top is OK. I have sanded down the lumps and bumps to an almost smooth finish. What should I use to fill in the many small crease like hollows in the grain of the ply? Does it need to be filled? None are over 1/16 of an inch deep. It's going to be skined with 1/8 inch oak ply and become a woody. When I skin it with the oak, I will use brads to fasten it and screws for the thicker1/2 in. trim. Do I need a mastic or glue under it? I also thought about placing a thick bead of silicone seal near the edge of the trailer before fastening down the skin to keep water out. I'm using spar varnish on the sides and oil based enamel on the top. Plan to have it done for Pamplen Grove for its first outing.

Mary and Mom's Nest

I wouldn't worry about filling if you have the high spots sanded off. What I would worry about is keeping moisture from under the outer skin of 1/8" oak ply. What I did when I skined my TD with oak plywood was glue it together with epoxy. It keeps out moisture and I didn't use any screws, nails or other fasteners. It doesn't take a lot of epoxy and it rolls on very easy. Anyway, it worked for me.

Thanks Steve, Your teardrop looks great. Exactly what type of epoxy did you use?
Mary and Mom's Nest

asian flava - What are micro balloons? I think I've gone beyond the eveyday household world of paint and glue!

Mary and Mom's Nest

407 Low-Density filler or microballoons ......\

http://www.mrfiberglass.com/westfill.html

mfkaplan wrote:Thanks Steve, Your teardrop looks great. Exactly what type of epoxy did you use?
Mary and Mom's Nest

Thank you too

I used this stuff. It is $$$ but goes a long way.

The thing with West is the price. It has raised from $53 a gallon of resin last year to $80 this year. Go with Raka. A 3 gallon kit is $144 and it works the same. I am buying some for the next boat or tear. (whichever comes first) West is the leader but like all name brands with a good record you pay for that recoed. Do yourself a favor and save some dough on theepoxy and put a flat screen in the tear or whatever adds you personality to it.

Cecil